Instead of replacing the K5 with an all-new generation, Kia is giving its midsize sedan a second facelift, internally known as DL3 PE2. It brings a new look, Kia's first Pleos Connect interior and, for the first time in the US, a K5 Hybrid. We have been following it since the plan was first reported, and this guide gathers everything we know so far. We will keep it updated until launch.
Kia K5 Second Facelift At A Glance
Project: DL3 PE2, the second facelift of the current K5 generation.
Design: updated front and rear, with a new rear lighting signature that drops the current zigzag look.
Interior: Kia's first production model with Pleos Connect, a large centered screen of about 17 inches and a column-mounted gear selector.
Hybrid: the new TMED-II hybrid system, about 4% more efficient, with indoor V2L.
US: the K5 Hybrid is scheduled to arrive in the US in 2027.
Life cycle: this update keeps the K5 on sale until at least 2030.
Why A Second Facelift Instead Of A New K5?
In late 2025, Korean reports revealed that Kia had started developing a second facelift for the K5, with a target launch in the first half of 2027 (second facelift confirmed). With EV demand slowing and hybrid sales growing, Kia chose to extend the current K5 until at least 2030 instead of investing in a new platform. Earlier plans for a next-generation K5 (DL4) are on hold for now (next-gen K5 DL4).
At its 2026 CEO Investor Day, Kia confirmed that sedans remain important in the US and that a K5 Hybrid will arrive there in 2027 (K5 Hybrid for the US).
Exterior Design
The first prototype was spotted in April 2026 (first sighting). Early prototypes used provisional lights, but the housings are already final: only the graphics inside will change for production. A prototype carried inside a transparent polycarbonate case gave us the first look at the production taillights, a clear departure from the current zigzag rear signature (production taillights), and later photos partially revealed both the front and rear design (front and rear partially leaked). Renderings preview how the finished sedan could look (expected look).
Interior: Kia's First Pleos Connect Cabin
The biggest change is inside. The updated K5 is expected to be Kia's first production model with Pleos Connect, the new infotainment platform from Hyundai Motor Group, shown on a large centered screen of about 17 inches (first look inside, centered screen, interior spy shots).
The rotary gear selector on the center console is replaced by a column-mounted stalk behind the steering wheel, which frees up space for storage. Prototypes with this new layout have been spotted in California (new interior layout leaked, spotted in California).
Powertrains: TMED-II Hybrid
The headline is the new TMED-II hybrid system (hybrid and tech overhaul):
About 4% better fuel efficiency and performance than the previous hybrid system.
Indoor V2L (vehicle-to-load), to power laptops or small appliances from the car's battery, a feature borrowed from Kia's EVs.
Part of Kia's plan to double its hybrid lineup from four models in 2025 to eight by 2030.
Kia has not confirmed what happens to the gasoline engines. Since the 2025 model year, the US K5 uses a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder with an 8-speed automatic, while the K5 GT keeps its 2.5-liter turbo (2025 K5 engines and pricing).
Release Date & Price
The second facelift targets the first half of 2027 in Korea, and the K5 Hybrid is scheduled to reach the US in 2027. No pricing yet. For reference, the 2025 K5 started at $26,990 in the US before destination (2025 K5 pricing). The new hybrid will likely sit above the gasoline versions.
FAQ
Is there a new-generation Kia K5? Not for now. Kia is giving the current K5 a second facelift (DL3 PE2) and keeping it on sale until at least 2030.
Will there be a K5 Hybrid in the US? Yes. Kia says the K5 Hybrid will arrive in the US in 2027.
What is new inside the K5? Pleos Connect on a large centered screen and a column-mounted gear selector.
When will the updated K5 be released? The target is the first half of 2027 in Korea.
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